Screen cleaner



Nov, 2, 1943. J, B, TUCKER 2,333,348

SCREEN CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSEPH E. TUCKER J. B. TUCKER' SCREENCLEANER Filed sept. 9, 1940 R 5 wmm v Il. D

Nov. 2, 1943.

Nov. 2, 1943. l 1 B, TUCKER 2,333,348 f v SCREEN' CLEANER Filed Sept. 9,1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jost/H e. rua/(ER Patented Nov. 2, 1943 l UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SCR-EEN CLEANER Joseph E. Tucker, Houston, reir.,assignor to Annie Smith Tucker 5 Claims.

The invention relates to a tool which may be lowered into deep wells andoperated to effect cleaning of clogging material from the perforationsin screens and also for cleaning the pores in the adjacent formations.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device which maybe lowered into a well casing and repeatedly actuated at a given levelto eect desired cleaning action.

nnother object is to provide a cleaning device having a displacementchamber of varying volume, the cleaning action being obtained by varyingthe volume of such chamber.

Another object is to eiect repeated surges of liquid to and from thedisplacement chamber,

such surges being eifective at a point below a packer mounted on thedevice.

A further object is to provide a device of the class described having aheel; wall anchor which may be set after the device has been loweredinto the well to a level at above which cleaning is to be effected.

.he foregoing objects together with other objects will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figs. l to 4 inclusive are sectional views of successive portions of anillustrative embodiment of the invention, parte thereof being shown intheir relative positions when the device is being lowi' ered into thewell bore.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fis. 2;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar to Figs. 1 to 4 but show the relativeposition of parts after the hook wall anchor has been set and theworking barrel or displacement chamber has been moved to its lowermostposition;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 9 in Fig. 2;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2|;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of thespring cage for setting the slips of the hook wall anchor;

Fig. l2 is an assembly view showing the device in position within a wellbore;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a mcdication of the telescopicconnection between the displacement chamber and the remainder of thedevice.

As best seen in Fig. l2 the device of the invention is lowered into ascreen or perforated section of casing I havinCr perforations 2 whichare to be subjected to cleaning action in order to remove any cloggingmaterial therefrom. Such device comprises a working or displacementbarrel or chamber 3 which is telescopically connected with the upper endl cf a mandrel 5 upon which is mounted a packer E. A hook wall anchor 'landa spring setting cage 8 are attached to the mandrel 5 at its lowerend.

The illustrated embodiment is shown in greater detail in Figs. 1 to 4wherein the displacement chamber 3 is shown as comprising a tubularsection closed at its upper end by means o'f a plug Il) having athreaded pin member I I at its upper end so that the device may besuitably attached to a sucker rod, tubing string or a wire line. Asetting pin I2 is attached to the lower end of the plug lil and extendsaxially downward within the chamber 3 to serve a purpose that will `morefully appear,

The barrel 3 is reduced internally at its lower end to form a shoulder I5 below which is a counterbore filled with packing it held in place bymeans of the gland I'I to form a fluid seal between the chamber 3 andthe remainder of the device.

The mandrel 5 includes an upward extension 2l! of an enlarged outerdiameter to form a shoulder which is complementary to the shoulder I5 inthe chamber 3. The engagement of these shoulders determines the extendedlimit of movement of these parts.

An annular plug Ill is threadably connected to the upper end of themandrel and is provided at its upper end with a plurality of springpressed projections 2li which are adapted to releasably engage' theupward projection 2l on a plunger assembly 23 which is movable withinthe extension 2b which comprises the upperportion of the mandrel 5. Thisconstruction provides a releasable connection for holding the plungerassem- 'bly 22 in the position indicated in Fig. 2,

The plunger assembly 22 comprises a body member it to which is fixed aplurality of cups 2S at its lower end. Intermediate its ends the bodymember lli is enlarged at 23, such enlargenient being provided with atransverse slot in which are pivotally mounted a plurality of latchingdogs 2d which are urged outwardly by a spring Sii so that such dogs willmove into the openings 34 in the extension 29 and latch the plungerassembly in a lowered position to serve a purpose that will more fullyappear.

The plunger assembly is guided in its movement by screws 32 which aresecured to the enlargement 23. The heads of these screws `slidably fitwithin elongated slots 33 in the extension' 20 as shown in Fig. 9.

The bore in the extension 25 is enlarged at 25 and has a shoulder 21 atits lower end to cooperate with the tapered surface 28 on the bodymember I8 to determine the lowermost position of the assembly in whichposition the dogs 29 enter the openings 34 to latch the assembly inplace.

As the displacement chamber 3 is elevated relative to the mandrel andassociated elements, a

shoulder 3| on the inside of the chamber 3 en-` gages and moves the dogs29 whereby the plunger assembly is released and permitted to moveupwardly and open the passage to the interior of the chamber 3. It is tobe noted however that the shoulder 3| is near the lower end of thechamber 3 and since this chamber may be of considerable length it may bemoved a considerable distance before the plunger assembly is unlatchedto permit the entry of fluid to the chamber. Attention is also directedto the fact that the unlatohing takes place before ports |4 areuncovered so that the ingress of i'luid takes place through the mandrel5 from below the packer 5.

The composite mandrel 5 includes a threaded collar 35 to which isattached a nipple 36 by weld 3l, thus providing a chamber 38 withinwhich is positioned an outwardly opening check valve 33. This valvepermits the outward movement of iiuid from within the mandrel butprevents the influx of fluid to the interior of the mandrel above thepacker El. Below the nipple 35 the mandrel is reduced in section at 40to receive a packer cup 4| which is secured in place thereon by means ofa ring 42.

Attached to the lower end of the mandrel 5 is an expander 43 having slipjaws 44 movable upon its tapering surfaces 45. Links 46 are attached tothe jaws 44 and the opposite ends of these links are pivotally attachedto a ring 4l which slidably surrounds the tubular extension 48. Thisextension is slotted vat 49 to receive pins 5G projecting outwardly froman inner ring 5|. Compression spring 52 engages this ring 5| and alsothe surface 53 within the expander 43. The ring is thus normally urgeddownwardly thus tending to hold the slips 44 in retracted position.

Surrounding the extension 48 below the ring 41 is the spring cageassembly 8 which includes a spring cage 5| to which is attached aplurality of bowed springs 6B so that the assembly engages the walls ofthe surrounding screen and tends to resist movement of the assembly.

The spring cage assembly is urged upwardly by means of a spring 65 whichengages a small housing 68 (Fig. ll.) extending transversely of theextension 48. The opposite end of this spring engages a ring 65 havingears 6l which project outwardly thru the slots 49 and engage the upperends of the slots 52 in the cage 6|.

It seems app-arent that upward movement of the spring cage assembly 8causes the cage 6| to engage the ring 4l and set the slips. In order toavoid such operation taking place while going into the well a latchingmechanism is provided to hold the 'assembly in a predetermined retractedposition. This mechanism comprises a plunger within the housing ES, acompression spring 1| constantly urging the plunger toward the interiorof the housing.

A slot 'l2 angularly spaced from the slots 62 in the spring cage isenlarged at its upper end sufficiently to pass the head 13 on theplunger l0. In order to latch the cage assembly in downward positionsuch assembly is pushed kdownwardly against the spring and the plunger10 is forced outwardly until the head 13 passes thru the enlargedportion of the opening '|2. The assembly is then allowed to moveupwardly under the influence of the spring 65 until the plunger 'l0strikes the lower end of the slot 12 whereby the assembly is latched inretracted position.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment is believed apparent fromthe foregoing description. By way of summary it will be stated thatpreliminary to lowering the device within the well the spring cageassembly 62 is latched in its downward position as just described. Thedevice is then lowered into the well by means of a tubing string, suckerrods or cable until the desired lowermost level is reached. During thelowering step a portion of the uid within the well will be passed aboutthe packer 4|. In order to avoid any restriction for the passage ofliquid, however, a plurality of openings I4 are provided in the mandrel,such openings being so located that they are exposed beneath the gland|1 when the charnber and mandrel are in extended position.

When the desired level is reached the spring cage assembly 62 remainsstationary by irictional engagement with the screen 2 as the remainderof the device is then lifted. When the plunger 'ID reaches theenlargement in the slot 12 the spring causes the plunger to moveinwardly and hence the spring cage 6I is released for movement over theextension 49. The device is then lowered whereupon the expander 43 movesdownwardly relative to the slips 44 so that the latter are forcedoutwardly and into engagement with the surrounding screen.

Continued lowering of the device will cause the chamber 3 to movetelescopically over the upper end of the mandrel 5 whereby the volume ofthe chamber is decreased. Continued lowering brings the pin 2 intoengagement with the projection 2| on the plunger assembly 22 whereuponsuch assembly is forced downwardly to close the passage thru themandrel, the dogs 29 moving into engagement with the openings 34.

The chamber 3 is then moved upwardly to enlarge the chamber which isclosed to the entry of uid until the dogs 29 are released by theshoulder 3| on the interior of the chamber. When such release takesplace the plunger assembly moves quickly upwardly, thus opening thechamber at its lower end whereupon fluid is `admitted to the chamberfrom within the screen below the packer 6. 'I'his surge of iluid tendsto dislodge any material which may be clogging the openings 2 in thescreen or the pores in the surrounding formation. Subsequent successivelowering and raising of the chamber 3 causes an inux and eiliux ofliquid from below the packer 6 and hence the desired cleaning action isbrought about.

It is believed apparent that progressive cleaning action may lbeeffected by lifting the complete assembly a predetermined and desiredamount after suflicient cleaning action has been produced at a givenlevel. When desired cleaning has been effected the entire unit may belifted from within the well. The spring cage B2 drags upon the interiorof the screen or casing I and hence the slips 44 are constantly urgeddownwardly in addition to the force exerted by the spring 52. The slipstherefore are urged to retracted position. In any event the slips cannotcause the tool to become stuck since the teeth thereon restrain theassembly from downwardly movement only. During upward movement of theassembly the openings I4 and the bore of the mandrel 5 serve to bypassliquid axially of the packer 6.

A modiiication of the construction already described is shown in Fig. 13wherein the extension 20 on the mandrel 5 and the plunger assembly 22are replaced by a collar 'I5 which determines the downward limit ofmovement of the mandrel relative to the chamber 3. In this modiiiedconstruction cleaning action is brought about by the raising of thechamber to the position of Fig. 13; the ports I4 being closed until theyare uncovered as the gland I'I moves above them.. As the ports I4 areopened there will be a rush of liquid into the mandrel and chamber whichallows the column of liquid in the well to drop sharply and strike aheavy liquid hammer blow upon the screen to clear the openings. Inaddition the alternate upward and downward movement of the chamber 3whereby the surging of fluid into and from this chamber produces thedesired cleaning action upon the screen I. It is to be understood thatthe structure is moved within the well and the operation thereof isentirely controlled through the cable 24 attached to the upper end ofthe assembly.

The invention is based upon the use of a displacement chamber of varyingvolume to repeatedly produce the desired surging action to effectcleaning. It seems apparent that, while the chamber 3 is shown at theupper end of the mandrel 5, these elements may be interchanged, the onlyrequisite 'being that there be relative movement of the two members toproduce the desired volumetric change in the device. Broadly theinvention comprehends a tool for removing clogging material from thescreen or the perforations in a well casing by producing repeated surgesof the liquid to and from the interior of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A well cleaner for cleaning perforations in a Well strainer and thelike comprising, a working barrel closed at its upper end and having apin projecting downwardly therein, a packer assembly including a mandrelhaving a telescopic connection with said barrel, a packer surroundingsaid mandrel and adapted to seal with the walls of said strainer member,a plunger assembly movable within said mandrel to close the passagetherein when moved to a downward position, means for latching saidplunger assembly to the mandrel when said assembly is forced downwardlyby said pin as the barrel is telescoped over the member, and means forthereafter releasing the plunger assembly when the barrel and mandrelare moved to extended position to open the passage so that flushingfluid surges through the perforations in the strainer and to theinterior of the device.

2. In a screen cleaner the combination of a displacement chamber closedat its upper end, and including a tubular mandrel telescopicallyconnected to, the chamber at its lower end so that relative telescopicmovement of the chamber and mandrel varies the volume thereof, a packeron said mandrel, there being openings in the mandrel and about saidpacker to bypass uid through the mandrel as the device is being loweredinto 'a well and the chamber and mandrel are in extended relation, meansfor repeatedly closing and opening the passage in the mandrel to theinterior of the chamber by movement of the chamber relative to themandrel so as to create a suction in the chamber when the openings areclosed and to thereafter due to continued movement of the chamber effectopening thereof to apply such suction to the well screen, said meansbeing operable to thereafter again close said openings and means foranchoring the mandrel in position as the displacement chamber isreciprocated relative thereto.

3. In a screen cleaner adapted to be lowered into a well screen to becleaned the combination of a displacement chamber closed at its upperend and having a setting pin extending downwardly therein, a packerassembly, said assembly including a tubular mandrel telescopicallyconnected to said chamber, a packer on said mandrel to seal between themandrel and the surrounding screen, means for anchoring said mandrelagainst downward movement within a well during lowering of the chamberrelative to the mandrel, closure means for the passage in the mandrelengageable by said setting pin as the chamber and mandrel approach fullytelescoped position for anchoring said last mentioned means in positionto close the passage from below the packer to the interior of thechamber and means Operable as the chamber and mandrel move to extendedposition for releasing the closure means to open the passage in themandrel so that fluid may surge to the interior of the chamber andmandrel.

4. In a well cleaning assembly the combination of a displacementchamber, a cable attached to the upper end of said chamber for operatingthe assembly, a mandrel connected to said chamber and telescopicallymovable relative thereto to increase and decrease the volume of saidchamber, a packer sealably engaging the walls of a screen surroundingthe device, and means includingr a series of openings in said mandreland a sleeve valve on said chamber for alternately admitting fluid frombelow the packer to and from the interior of said chamber as therelative positions of the chamber and mandrel are varied by areciprocating action.

5. A screen cleaner for wells comprising a hollow mandrel, meansoperable to anchor said mandrel inthe screen to be cleaned, a housinghaving a chamber therein telescoped over said mandrel and sealedthereabout, means to elect reciprocation of said chamber relative tosaid mandrel, a plurality of openings in the mandrel to be covered oruncovered by the sliding movement of said housing, said openings beingdisposed to be covered except when said housing is in extended positionto have created a suction in the chamber and mandrel so that thesubsequent uncovering of the openings permits a surge of nuid from thescreen to rush into the chamber so as to eicct a cleaning action in thescreen due to the hammer obtained by the sharp droping of the column ofliquid in the Well.

JOSEPH B.

